Randolph raby craig and joseph craig



waitedl @Qi-taire ma eine Letters 'Patent No. 98,234, dated December v28,' l 869. I

IMPROVEMENT IN BALL-AND-SOCKET JOINTS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the Same- To all whon tm-ay concern:

Be it known that we, RANDOLPH RARI' CRAIG and JOSEPH CRAIG, of Nevada City, in the county-of Nevada, and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Hydraulic Mining; and we do hereby declare that the fbllowing is a full and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of our invention is to provide an improved attachment to the hall-and-sockct joint usedin hydraulic mining, so that the upper part of' the ball or sphere, which carries the eduction-'l'iipc or nozzle, will move easily in the socket in every direction, without producing any considerable amount of friction, which is now so largely incident to the use of the common baIl-and-socket joint, as to render it almost impracticable, especially in hydraulic mining, where the pressure of' the water must necessarily be great, in order to produce the dcsiredeteet upon the gravel or cement bank to be washed.

In order-to utilizcthe hull-aml-socket jointso that it can be employed with case and economy under a great pressure ofv water, and admit ol' the nozzle heing turned at almost every point, from a horizontal to a. vertical or perpeiulicular, we employ double rods, which are provided with set-screws, and are counected centrally to form swivel-joints. v

The upper rod, extends through the ball, and the lower rod through the socket, and hy the turning of the set-screws, the socket is drawn nearer to or more remote from the interior surface of the ball, which lessens the friction in a greater or lesser degree, as,j

when it is entirely removed from the surface of thev ball, the socket turns simply on a pivot or swivel.

A stay-plate is -uscd to keep the swivel in the centre ofthe ball, so that the friction will be equal when the socket is turned in any direction.

lo more 'fully describe our invention, we refer to the accompanying drawing, and letters marked thereon, which represents a sectional elevationi For au easy adjust-inentof the socket, the ball `A is divided horizontally, and is 'cast of iron or other metal, with tla'nges pierced for bolts for holding it together.

The upper flange extends back, to form an pron, A', for a rigid attachment to a table or support-ing post.

The socket B is also castl of iron, or other metal,

land has a goosencekextension, B', with the del siredY curvature to attach the eduction-pipe or nozzle.

"To regulate the pressure of the 'socket Bv against the hevelled edge of the ball, and overcome the great amouut'of friction produced by the great breeof water, wc employ rods D D, connected centrally by a swivel, E, which forms-a swivel-joint.

The uppper rod extends through the opening of the socket, and the exit-pipe or gooseneck, and is provided with a set-screw, Dl.

The lower rod passes through the base of the ball, and is also provided with a set-screw, D?, and when in position, both the rods are pcrpeinlicular, and the heads ofv which may turn in the swivel with the socket. v

By the adjustment of the. set-screws,thc socket is depressed orbrought nearer to the bevelled edge of the ball, and consequently more or less friction is produced, according to the degree of the pressure of the' water upon the ball, 'and if the surface of the ball were allowed to come in close contactwith the socket, it would he almost. iin-possible, single-hauded,

to move the nozzle under a tln'ee-lnuulred foot press# i ure; but by this improvement and application otouis, to the ball-aud-socket joint` it is made possible and easy for a child to turn the ball and nozzle, even under a greater pressure, Also, the circumference of the ball is very much reduced, and a vless surface for friction `is had, it. it is liable at all tobe prodnced.

lo keep the swivel and rods vertical, and prevent' unequal l'riction,we employ a stay-plate, F, with radial arms resting against the ball.

The lower rod passes through the contre of this stay-plate, which has an opening suttieient to'admit of 'considerable play, and the lower end of the swivel mayv rest upon it.

l4`rietion-rollers might lbe placed between the ball Y and socket, and the use of these, we think, was made inentiolnof in a former speciiication for au improved hydraulic nozzle, our claims to which were rejected,

but upon trial it'was found to be ditieult to keep the v rollers andr ball in piace without grooves or other dervices, which renderedthe apparatus'coniplicated, without reducing the friction to that extent which is now accomplished by our present improvements.

Having thus described ourinvention,

What we claim, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is y lhe combination ot' the ball-and-socket joint, consisting 'substantially' of the parts A and B', with the rods D, set-screws D1 D2, swivel E, and stay-plate F, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In witnesswhereof, we have hereunto setour hands` and seals. f

RANDOLPH RABY CRAIG. [In s.]` JOSEPH CRAIG.v [L s] Witnesses:

L. W. WILLIAMS, y C. T. GARFIELD..l 

